Amidst an excavation of the ancient Egyptian city Thmuis, researchers uncovered the ruins of a fragrance factory dating back to 300 BC. The site contained tiny glass perfume jars, imported clay amphoras and an ancient sludge. The latter was brought to ancient Egyptian perfume experts who then replicated residue based on recipes—featuring myrrh, cardamom, green olive oil, and cinnamon—found in materia medica texts. (An act …
Handmade in California, Sigil‘s scents are rich and complex without using artificial additives or encompassing fillers. The brand’s founder and alchemist, Patrick Kelly, relies on his own nose and his memory of scents to combine real ingredients until he’s happy with the final product. And, while many natural fragrances are muddled and overly earthy, Sigil’s are layered and delicate—they melt into the skin and resurface …
With “7 lovers,” iconic fashion editor and magazine founder Carine Roitfeld demonstrates a deep understanding of the human imagination’s connection to scent. Her debut fragrance line (and, in fact, her first foray into products entirely), “7 lovers” features seven different products—each built around a character and an accompanying city. All of these characters are referred to as fictional lovers—love in the broadest sense though: aspirational …
